Rubber protector for the soles and heels of footwear



H. T. STEPHENS.

RUBBER PROTECTOR FOR THE SOLES KND HEELS 0F FOOTWEAR.

APPLICATION FILED mus. 1920.

1,370,0 5, Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH TAYLOR STEPHENS, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

RUBBER PROTECTOR FOR THE SOLES AND HEELS OF FOOTVJ EAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed January 6, 1920. Serial No. 349,697.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH TAYLOR STEPHENS, a subject of the King of England, residing at London, in the Kingdom of England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rubber Protectors for the Soles and Heels of Footwear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a simplified construction of protector or pad adapted for secure attachment to the soles and heels of boots, shoes and the like, but capable of being readily removed when renovation becomes necessary.

A typical form of boot-protector, constructed according to my present invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawin s:

%igure 1 is a blank from which the anchoring device is formed, before being turned over; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the anchoring device; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the complete protector or pad.

In carrying out my invention, I stamp, preferably from steel plate, a blanlr consisting in a circular shaped piece a with depending pointed arms I), as shown in Fig. 1. The arms 6 are then bent at right angles, or slightly outward, the fanged member thus constituted being adapted to serve as an anchoring device. To the upper side of the anchoring device I secure a strengthening washer c, with the object of enabling the anchoring device to withstand the blow from a hammer when being fitted to the footwear. A layer of canvas 0 is placed between the member a and washer e, and thisv being away from the face of the rubber pad, remains virtually waterproof while a second layer of canvas c ,,can be fixed to the under side of the member a to further strengthen the pad, the fangs 6 being pushed therethrough. The canvas-furnished anchoring device having been placed in a suitable mold char ed with rubber, the whole is subjected to tie processof vulcanization, with the result that the protector or pad, is produced; the rubber cl being securely -vulcanized to the two canvases 0, 0 The fangs b protrude beneath the bottom canvas 0 and upon being driven into the face of the pointed, the inclined faces being-inward, with the effect that, when driven into thesole or heel leather, the fangs spread outward, and materially assist in securingthe" protector or pad in position. The under side of the pad may be slightly hollow, so

as to insure close contact between its edges and the face to which it is applied.

It will be observed that a. bootprotector or pad constructed in the manner described is complete in itself and requires neither screws nor nails for fastening it in position, nor previous preparation of the surface to which it is applied. It may, however, be prized up and removed without difficulty when renovation becomes necessary.

I claim:

. 1. A protector for the soles and heels of footwear, comprising a. rubber wear member, a fanged anchoring device, a strengthening washer for the top of said anchoring device, a canvas layer between said member and washer, and a second layer of canvas under said member, the Whole being vulcanized together, as stated. 7

2. A protector'for the'soles and heels of footwear comprising a rubber wear member,

washer for the top ofsaid anchoring device,

a canvas layer between said member and washer, and a second layer of canvas under said member, an intervening layer of rubber between the two canvas layers, the whole being vulcanized together as stated.

3. A protector for the soles and heels of footwear comprising a rubber wear member, an anchoring device, chisel-edged fangs sharpened on the inside for said anchoring device, a strengthenin washer for the top of said anchoring device, a 'canvas layer between said ring and'washer, and a second layer of canvas under said ring, there being an intervening layer of rubber between the two canvas layers, the whole being vulcanized together, as stated.

HUGH TAYLOR STEPHENS. 

